> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Updated: 2026 Craft Chocolat Challenge LIVE Awards Show | #PSC 195 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/2026-craft-chocolat-challenge-live-awards-show-psc-195/ - Published: 2026-04-13T15:32:49.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-15T14:53:24.000Z - Description: Episode 195 of #PodSaveChocolate is dedicated to presenting the winners of the 2026 Craft Chocolat Challenge. Joining me will be Dustin Cornett, the founder of the challenge, and Leila Carvajal of Cocoa Supply, the sponsor of the Innovation Awards. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream 🗓️ Episode 195 streamed on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026\. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/pjIy%5F0IRaWA?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Watch this episode on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/pjIy%5F0IRaWA?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7449475489489920000-OR3o?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Watch this episode on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7449475489489920000-OR3o?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1E761BEja2/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1E761BEja2/) --- ## **Episode 195 Overview** 2026 marks Season 5 of the Craft Chocolat Challenge. In this episode, guests Dustin Cornett and Leila Carvajal will join me live to announce the winners of this year’s competition. [SEASON FIVE | Craft Chocolat Chall![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/pfavico-29.ico)Craft Chocolat Chall![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/d859b8_79d0fefa8a05438d85d1b145a062a20d-mv2-3.jpg)](https://www.craftchocolatchallenge.com/season-five?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Chocolate Shop & Cafe | Rushville | Bean to Bar ChocolateChocolate, Pastries & Coffee![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/d859b8_788e467eabc14c6196433f86ee09ddb3-mv2_d_2048_2020_s_2-1.jpg)chocolat-inn![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/d859b8_9d68088cbe7844c2b6ffe327cdd57512-mv2.jpg)](https://www.chocolat-inn.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Unlike other competitions, the Craft Chocolat Challenge is very selective: - There are only four judging categories: plain *and* flavored Dark, Milk, and White, plus Inclusions. - There are only three winners in each category: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. - There is one meta-category with three awards: Overall winners (the highest scores irrespective of category). - There is one special award category: Innovation. (Each judge nominates up to three entries. The three that receive the most nominations are recognized. This award is unranked; all three awards are at the same level.) - Entrants can enter no more than two bars for consideration for awards in a season. (They may enter others for feedback only.) - Entrants can enter no more than one bar per category. - Companies that win three awards, regardless of year, category, or award level, graduate to “Master” status and may no longer enter bars for awards judging in future seasons. --- ### Challenge Sponsors and Supporters [Cocoa Supply - Wholesale Sustainable Cacao Products and Specialty IngredientsQuality and Sustainable Cacao and Specialty Ingredients for bakeries, restaurants, manufacturers, and chocolatiers.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-20CS-4.png)Cocoa Supply North America Logo![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Untitled_design_10__91309.1673852879-5.png)](https://cocoasupply.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Beanstalkr | Craft chocolate directory and reviews – Somewhere to talk beans and find your next chocolate bar![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Beanstalkr-Logo![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Beanstalkr-Logo-3.png)](https://beanstalkr.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) beanstalkr hosted the judging platform for the second year in a row. --- ### **2026 Challenge Stats** This year’s challenge featured: - 63 entries for judging (several more for feedback-only). - 26 entries in the Dark (plain and flavored) bar category. - 11 entries in the Milk (plain and flavored) bar category. - 6 entries in the White (plain and flavored) bar category. - 20 entries in the Inclusions (dark, milk, or white) category. - 9 members on the judging panel. - Entries from 17 US states (Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah). - Entries from 11 other countries (Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, and the Philippines). --- ### **Winners** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/True-Chocolate-Innovation-S5--Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Choco-Estates-Innovation-S5--Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Lotus-Nutrition-Innovation-S5--Large.jpeg) Innovation ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Chachalate-Best-Inclusion-Bronze-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Dionisia-Best-Inclusion-Silver-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Carobeans-Best-Inclusion-Gold-S5-Large.jpeg) Inclusions L-> R BSG ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Cacaoworks-Best-White-Bronze-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Choco-Forest-Best-White-Silver-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Yojoa-Best-White-Gold-S5-Large.jpeg) white L-> R BSG ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Slow-Cocoa-Best-Milk-Bronze-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Sweets-Escalier-Best-Milk-Silver-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Blue-Spruce-Best-Milk-Gold-S5-Large.jpeg) milk L-> R BSG ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Cacao-Dimension-Best-Dark-Bronze-S5-Large-1.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Indigenous-Chocolate-Best-Dark-Silver-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/A-Craft-Chocolate--Best-Dark-Gold-S5-Large.jpeg) dark L-> R BSG ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Yojoa-Top-Overall-Bronze-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/Indigenous-Chocolate-Top-Overall-Silver-S5-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/A-Craft-Chocolate-Top-Overall-Gold-S5-Large.jpeg) Overall L-> R BSG ### **New Craft Chocolate Challenge Masters** Two winners graduated to [Masters status](https://www.craftchocolatchallenge.com/masters?ref=thechocolatelife.com). 1. **Sweets Escalier** 2. **Blue Spruce Chocolates** --- ### Shareable Media ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ Friday, April 17th ****Interview with Scott Johnson** Atlas software demonstration **and special member offer!* --- ### **Episode Hashtags and Social Media Links** #CraftChocolatChallenge #ChocolatCafe #CocoaSupply #beanstalkr #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ⁉️ After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for ****Free** to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. ---